Immersion-Suit-Booklet.Pdf

This safety booklet is provided as a public service by:

Imperial International, Inc., (www.imperialsuit.com) Seattle, WA U.S.A. Stearns Inc., (www.stearnssafety.com) CARE AND St. Cloud, MN U.S.A. INSPECTIONINSPECTION BOOKLET We disclaim any responsibility or liability for any injury to the person or property of those who read this manual. For further information, contact your immersion suit manufacturer or the USMSA. The United States Marine Safety Association (“USMSA”) is comprised of companies and individuals who design and/or manufacture marine safety equipment, service and/or sell safety equipment, or provide training in the use of such equipment. The Association is dedicated to promoting the highest possible marine safety standards and creating widespread awareness in the use of marine safety equipment. IMMERSION SUIT

Inspection is suggested before every voyage Be aware that cold water (less than 90 or at least quarterly. degrees Fahrenheit) can lower your body temperature. This is called Hypothermia. If your body temperature falls too low, you Seven Step may be unable to swim, or hold onto InspectionInspection PrProcess floating objects. Further cold water exposure could result in unconsciousness 1. Check closures on storage bag, as well and drowning. as general condition. Wax closure snaps on bag for ease of opening. Ensure Even if you are wearing a Personal Flotation Donning Instructions are legible. Be sure Device (PFD), your body can cool down 25 bag, size, and manufacturer of suit times faster in cold water than in air. A Cold labeling are correct. Water Immersion Suit helps reduce the rate your body is cooling in cold water. 2. Lay suit on a flat clean surface. Visually check seams and remainder of the suit, Water temperature, clothing, body size, inside and out, for damages. Small rips, amount of body fat and movement in the tears, or punctures can be repaired by an water all play a part in cold water survival. authorized repair station. Major tears, Thin people cool faster than large people. rips, punctures and chemical or heat Children cool faster than adults. burns must be inspected and repaired by the suit manufacturer. Make sure suit is Immersion Suits can help you stay alive dry inside and out before storage. longer in cold water. They can let you float without using energy and they help protect your body from cold water.

Reproduction of all or part of this booklet is permitted with the expressed written consent of the United States Marine Safety Association (USMSA). 1. 3. The zipper used in an immersion suit is Cold Water Survival designed to provide a water tight seal. It is important that regular maintenance When you are in cold water, do not swim practices be performed. unless you are sure you can reach a nearby A) Visually check zipper for wear, damage, corrosion and cleanliness. If zipper shows boat, fellow survivor, or floating object. If any signs of wear or damage, remove the you must swim, swim on your back to keep immersion suit from service and have a your face out of the water. factory authorized repair facility inspect the suit. Debris and foreign matter can be If a nearby floating object is large, pull removed by using a soft bristle brush and yourself up on it. The more your body is out fresh water. B) Check zipper by sliding up and down with a of water, it will lessen heat loss, increase steady straight pull to check for ease of survival time, and you will be more visible operation. If zipper is non-functional or for rescue. difficult to close, remove the immerson suit from service and have a factory authorized If there are others in the water, and repair facility inspect the suit. C) Regular lubrication of the inner and outer conditions permit, swim in tandem with a zipper is essential. Only use a lubricant companion. Keeping survivors together recommended by the manufacturer. Use of improves moral, and makes a larger visible grease or non-approved lubricants can harm target increasing the chance of rescue. the zipper or suit. 4. Check head support/buoyancy ring for obvious damage and ensure that it is properly attached. Check inflation hose for kinks, deterioration or leaks. See that the lock screw is in open position. Head support/buoyancy ring should be inflated and tested for leaks using one of the following two methods. A) Orally inflate the bladder until firm then immerse in water looking for air bubbles. If bubbles are present, remove immersion suit from service and contact the manufacturer or a factory authorized repair facility OR B) Orally inflate until firm, let stand for 24 hours and check for firmness. If leaks are detected, remove immersion suit from service and contact the manufacturer or a factory authorized repair facility. 3. 4. Make sure the locking ring is screwed away from the mouthpiece of the immersion suit inflator, so you can blow air into the suit’s bladder. 5. Check reflective tape. Replace if neccessary. For best adhesion, repair should be completed by a factory 4. Holding the zipper below the slider with authorized repair station. one hand, fully close the zipper by firmly pulling straight up on the lanyard with 6. Check whistle for audio function and the other hand. Secure the flap over the ease of accessibility. face/mouth. 7. Be sure an approved distress marker light 5. Enter water feet first while protecting with an unexpired battery is firmly your airways with your hands attached to the suit.

WARNINGS: Do not inflate the air bladder until you are 5. in the water to prevent damage or injury. There is a risk of entrapment in submerged vessel compartments due to suit buoyancy. Jumping into the water is a last resort. Ease/lower yourself into the water if possible.

Insert other arm and close zipper and face flap. Adjust wrist and ankle bands to fit. 7.

Enter water feet first covering your airways. Donning Instructions Cleaning

Your life may depend on your ability to Washing: In no case should the suit be quickly don your immersion suit in an drycleaned or exposed to any chemical emergency. It makes sense to have solvents or cleaners. The suit should be practiced beforehand. Monthly practice handwashed with mild detergent and rinsed should reduce your donning time from thoroughly with plenty of fresh water. Stains minutes to seconds. can be cleaned by gently rubbing with a 1. Remove suit from storage bag. soft bristle brush. 2. You should practice donning the suit, feet Drying: Hang suit inside out on large first, while lying or sitting on the deck. wooden hanger in a cool (65-75 degrees Vessel movement or list will often prevent Fahrenheit), dry and well ventilated area. Do donning the suit in a standing position. not expose to sunlight or direct heat. Following the drying of the interior of the 3. Place your weaker arm into the sleeve of suit, it should be reversed to completely dry the immersion suit. Then using your free the outside. When the suit has throughly hand, reach up and place the immersion dried, it can be returned to the bag by suit hood over your head. Then place following steps 1 to 4 for Storage your strong arm into the sleeve of the Instructions. immersion suit.

Certified Repair Facility

Remove suit from bag Pull on as you would Immersion suit manufacturers recommend a a pair of coveralls complete inspection of your immersion suit by a certified inspection and repair facility at intervals not exceeding every 2 years. Immersion suits 5 years old should be inspected annually. Please contact your immersion suit manufacturer for a listing of certified repair facilities. Insert arm into suit and adjust hood over head Storage

1. Lay suit out on flat, clean surface with 3. Fold arms over rolled up legs and across arms out. Make sure zipper is fully open chest. and the lock screw on the inflatable tube is in the open position.

4. Tuck hood into the roll and place in storage bag. Secure the bag closures. 2. Roll suit, feet first, up to the chin area Be sure suit is stored in clean, dry area making sure not to crease the head and is immediately accessible in case of support/buoyancy ring or inflatable emergency. Do not compress the suit in tubes. Tuck face flap into neck area to storage as it may result in loss of prevent Velcro® from attaching to suit buoyancy and thermal protection. while in storage.

Note: Storage recommendations vary between manufacturers. 1 1 Consult your suit manufacturer2 2 for additional information.

1 1 2 2 3 3 4 4

Fold arms over rolled Roll suit, feet first, up Lay suit out on flat, up legs and across to the chin area Tuck hood into the roll clean surface with chest. arms out. Make sure making sure not to and place in storage zipper is fully open and crease the head bag. Secure the bag the lock screw on the support/buoyancy ring closures. inflatable oral tube is or inflatable tubes. in the open position. 3 3 4 4